Synonyms of people

people 1 of 2

plural noun

ˈpē-pəl 

1

as in world

human beings in general

despite the horrors she witnessed, Anne Frank never lost her faith in people

Synonyms & Similar Words

• world
• folks
• humanity
• public
• society
• species
• humankind
• community
• populace
• masses
• crowd
• rabble
• proletariat
• mob
• riffraff
• rabblement

2

as in populace

the body of the community as contrasted with the elite

tensions mounted until the people rose up in rebellion

Synonyms & Similar Words

• populace
• public
• crowd
• millions
• commoners
• mob
• mass
• commons
• multitude
• plebs
• plebeians
• herd
• cattle
• rank and file
• rabble
• hoi polloi
• proletariat
• riffraff
• unwashed
• scum
• rout
• bourgeoisie
• trash
• ragtag and bobtail
• tag, rag, and bobtail
• rabblement
• middle class

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• elite
• elect
• choice
• aristocracy
• cream
• pride
• flower
• fat
• society
• pick
• A-list
• upper crust
• best
• pink
• quality
• nobility
• gentry
• royalty
• gentlefolk
• corps d'elite
• patriciate
• peerage
• gentility
• haute monde

3

as in family

a group of persons who come from the same ancestor

introduced my new boyfriend to my people

Synonyms & Similar Words

• family
• folks
• tribe
• house
• clan
• race
• kin
• blood
• household
• lineage
• descendant
• stock
• kinfolk
• kinsfolk
• kindred
• dynasty
• relative
• line
• extended family
• nuclear family
• offspring
• issue
• progeny
• seed
• brood
• blended family
• kith
• kinsman
• scion
• clansman
• kinswoman

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• origin
• birth
• extraction
• descent
• ancestry
• pedigree

people

2 of 2

verb

as in to inhabit

to supply with inhabitants

a science-fiction novel about a mission to people Mars

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inhabit
• populate
• move (to)
• colonize
• settle
• relocate (to)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• depopulate
• unpeople

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of people

Plural noun

Just look at the case reports of people injecting themselves with melanotan and then having their moles subsequently get darker or even developing melanoma. — Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2026

The sluggish job market has shut out new entrants and left people like Ruiz feeling stuck. — Bryan Mena, CNN Money, 8 Aug. 2026

Verb

The paradox of this quartet of movies up for the new casting Oscar, all boldly peopled with nonprofessionals, is that this very practice has become professionalized. — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 25 Feb. 2026

Why can’t people RSVP properly for goodness’ sake? — Mary Shannon Wells, Southern Living, 21 Feb. 2026